Ahead of the June 6 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly (NASS), the race for the Speaker of the House of Representatives is getting interesting as incumbent Speaker, Yakubu Dogara is strategising to cash in on the self-inflicted discord ravaging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), to retain his seat.

Reliable sources told The Guardian that the Speaker, who may be in possession of a trump card, is quietly reaching out to the 123 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members-elect and a section of APC members, who are occupying key committee positions in a bid to curry their support. Dogara, who has maintained studied silence on his ambition, had through his aide on media and public affairs, Malam Hassan Adamu Turaki, said he won’t be dragged into talks on the speakership, but would rather occupy himself with the task of serving out his tenure successfully.

However, moves by members-elect from the North Central and South East geo-political zones to take a shot at the speakership may sound the death knell for the ruling party’s zoning of the seat to the South West geo-political zone.With unfolding developments, there is the likelihood that contest could get unmanageable when the 9th NASS is inaugurated in less than 60 days, because lawmakers from both zones insist that APC’s decision smacks of insensitivity to the need to adhere to the principles of federal character aimed at ensuring equitable distribution of positions of power in the country.


The North Central Caucus Stakeholders led by Mr. John Dyegh (APC, Benue) faulted the APC’s stance, wondering why the speakership should be zoned to the South West even when the number two citizen, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, comes from there.They anchored their position on the provisions of Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, which says: “The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies shall be carried out in a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few ethnic or sectional groups in that government or any of its agencies, in order to command loyalty and peaceful coexistence.”

Lawmakers that have so far delared interest in Dogara’s job include; Ahmed Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Muhammed Umar Bago (APC, Niger), and Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (APC, Abia). They said they are better placed to take the seat than Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, who is the preferred choice of APC. Wase’s candidacy is already gaining grounds among lawmakers from the zone, who argue that he stands out in view of his years of experience, commitment to the party, sense of organisation and leadership qualities.

Moreover, Wase known with the sobriquet “Maje,” remains one of the strong pillars of the APC in Plateau State, with his constituency consistently voting for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in all elections.Beyond his native Plateau State, other lawmakers say record of service in his three terms (from 2007 to date) speaks loud for him.

As a member of different standing committees in the 6th, 7th and the current 8th House, such as Emergency & Disasters, Environment, Capital Market, as well as the Federal Character, which he chaired twice, Wase’s contributions accelerated the passage of numerous executive bills such as the Companies & Allied Matters Act (Amendment) Bill 2018, and the Deep Offshore and Inland Basins Production Sharing Contract (Amendment) Bill 2018.


These contributions seem to endear him to his colleagues, resulting in his elevation to the position of Deputy Leader of the House after the demise of Umar Buba Jibril, early last year.Bago, a second termer at a cocktail he hosted for new and returning House members in Abuja noted: “I won’t be in this race in the first place if this position was zoned to the South East because I will see equity in it, but for it to be zoned to South West there is no equity at all.

Feelers, however, reveal that APC may fall back on Wase to ensure that Dogara does not spring a surprise by cashing on the determined efforts by lawmakers from North Central. A former House member, Mr. Lumumba Dah-Adeh, who is more predisposed to Wase’s emergence, explained that the current configuration of the country’s political structure favours the North Central to produce the speaker.

Adeh, who represented Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency from 1999 to 2003, said Wase possesses the quality of a high-class lawmaker with the capacity to effectively preside over the House.Nevertheless, Gbajabiamila, who remains the candidate to beat is being endorsed by most members of the North West and North East geo-political zones who occupy over one third of seats in the 360-member lower legislative chamber.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/house-speakership-dogara-rallies-pdp.html

Abigail Palmer, a single mother has been found guilty of the murder of her two-month old baby in the process of trying to stop the child from crying and making noise.

The 33 year old mom had claimed she had fallen asleep on the sofa only to wake up and find her daughter, Teri-Rae, “blue and lifeless”, Evening Standard reports.

But she was found guilty of manslaughter after the prosecution alleged she crushed the baby to stop her from crying.

Paramedics had been called to the home in Solihull, West Midlands, United Kingdom, but were unable to save the tragic newborn.

The death was initially treated as non-suspicious but a skeletal examination later discovered fresh damage to her ribs.

The 33-year-old tested positive for cocaine during her pregnancy and had regular visits from health care and social workers, who didn’t raise any concerns.

She has since been sentenced to 13 years in prison.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/woman-murders-2-month-old-baby-for.html

Babachir Lawal, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has said he can be president of Nigeria.

Speaking with The Sun, Lawal said the constitution did not limit the presidency to any part of the country.

He was addressing the issue of zoning the 2023 presidency outside the north.


“Every part of Nigeria can produce a president, a competent one.

“I know so many. Being a cosmopolitan man, I know Igbos not less than ten that can successfully run this country; I know Yorubas that can do, I know Ijaws that can do, I know Hausas that can do, I know even Kilba.

“Hey myself, my friend, I can be president of this country. I consider myself quite competent to do so from a small tribe of 300,000 people. There are so many such tribes that can produce good, competent leaders all over Nigeria.

“Even if it is in the north, if we say the north-west has produced a presidential candidate, the south-west had produced one, I don’t see why the north-central cannot produce or the north-east cannot produce just as south-south, south-east, south-west and even north-west can still produce. The constitution doesn’t say it is prohibited. And as I said, I believe every zone, every state, has capable people that can run this country effectively,” Lawal said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/i-can-be-president-of-nigeria-in-2023.html

Seven political parties have applied to the Federal High Court asking that Rochas Okorocha should not be issued a Certificate of Return.

The parties, which are joinders in the case, argued that Okorocha did not win the election.

Governor Okorocha contested the Orlu West Senatorial district of Imo State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and was declared the winner in controversial circumstances.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, withheld the certificate, prompting Okorocha to ask the court to compel the Commission to issue him the Certificate of Return.

Following arguments over service of court processes, Justice Taiwo O. Taiwo ordered that parties in the matter be served all the court processes and adjourned to April 9, 2019.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/7-political-parties-ask-court-to-stop.html

Fred Amata, President, Director’s Guild of Nigeria (DGN) on Friday called on the management of some cinema houses in Lagos, to desist from showing only films and movies that they contributed to its production at the detriment of others.

Amata said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

According to him, “some of the cinema houses in Lagos, in trying to get the best of their practices, have come out with rules and regulations that are detrimental to a free and fair level playing field.’’

“For instance, some cinema houses said that they would like to be involved in a movie’s scripting and casting before they can be shown in their cinemas.

“However, this is totally beyond their scope and it is a problem that needs to be addressed and tackled.

The DGN’s president said that the organisation was committed to ensure that the cinema industry developed along the lines of best international standard practices.

Amata said that the body for the past 20 years had nurtured the development and growth in almost every part of the profession from script writing, acting to directing and cinematography.

“DGN has been a major influence to the growth and development of practitioners we have today.

“We are planning to celebrate 20 years in a grand style to mark DGN’s contribution to the development of the entertainment sector which would be announce at a later date,” he said.

Amata said that all the big names in the entertainment industry would surely join in the celebration which would make it a very colourful ceremony.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/fred-amata-cautions-cinema-houses-on.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it is satisfied with the conduct of the recently concluded Rivers State gubernatorial election.

The commission which met yesterday and reviewed the conduct of the just concluded Rivers State collation exercise, expressed satisfaction with the outcome and commended the security agencies for their professionalism, which ensured the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

In a statement issued by the INEC National Commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the commission commended the political parties, domestic and international observers, other stakeholders and the people of Rivers State for their support and understanding which paved the way for the speedy and orderly conclusion of the exercise.

However, the commission said it will conduct supplementary elections in Gokana 129.086 17 219 41 SC/872/RV, Opobo/Nkoro 7.344 5 20 2 SC/883/RV, Ahoada West 36.692 10 47 30 SC/860/RV and Abua/Odual 88.561 13 SC 33/ SC/857/RV with a total of 261, 683 voters.

Meanwhile, the commission also deliberated on the conduct of lmo North Senatorial District election held on 23rd February and 9th March 2019.

It noted a number of issues arising from the election and set up a committee to look into them.

“The committee is to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of allegations of misconduct in the election. It is also to advice the commission on whether its procedures were complied with by officials. The committee is to submit its report on Wednesday 10th April 2019,” the statement added.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/inec-satisfied-with-rivers-election-to.html

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said that it is not bothered by the decision of the former Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, to contest against its preferred candidate, Senator Ahmed Lawan, for the presidency of the Senate.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, told Akelicious last night that it would rather wait until Ndume makes his move on the floor of the Senate in June.


The party had nominated Lawan for the Senate presidency and indicated that other interested senators-elect would have to stand down.

But Ndume opposed the party’s position, saying it was unconstitutional and could not stand. He launched his ambition on Tuesday with a nine-point agenda in a clear defiance of the party.

Isa-Onilu said: “It is not yet a date for the National Assembly to choose its new leaders and the party is at peace. We are doing what needs to be done to get our members to abide by the decisions of the party.

“We have confidence that at the end of the day, all our members will go as a united entity on the floor of the National Assembly to do as we all collectively agreed.

“So we are not worried at all and there is no cause for concern.”

On what APC is going to do about it, Issa-Onilu said the party would wait till the Election Day to see what would happen on the floor of the National Assembly.

“What is important is what happened on the day of the election not before,” he said.

Akelicious gathered from aides to some of the NWC members that they have been playing host to many lobbyists and interested party leaders who are out to influence the zoning of certain positions to their areas.

Several party stakeholders were seen visiting the party’s national secretariat, seeking to meet with the National Chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole, or other NWC members.

“NWC members are contending with pressures coming from top party leaders and other representatives of interest groups to drum up support for preferred zoning arrangement,” a source said.

It was also learnt that most of NWC members have been reaching out to leaders in their zones with a view to getting feedback on the positions to support during the meeting.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/ndumes-ambition-not-issue-says-apc.html

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun State Area Command, said on Tuesday that it generated a total revenue of three billion, two hundred and fifty eight million, six hundred and twenty eight thousand, one hundred, ninety naira and fifty kobo (N3, 258, 628, 190.50) between January and March.

The Controller of the Command, Michael Agbara made the disclosure while briefing journalists on scorecard of the state command for the first quarter of 2019 fiscal year at sentry, idiroko.

Agbara also said that the revenue generated is against one billion, three hundred and fifty six million, four hundred and eighty two thousand, eight hundred, seven naira and fifteen kobo (N1, 356, 482, 807.15) collected in the corresponding period of year 2018.

He said the command seized 226 goods comprises of 83 units of vehicles (37 tokunbo and 46 means of conveyance), 12,720 bags of foreign rice (50 kg each), 446 kegs of vegetable oil (25liters each), 4 units of motorcycles, 778 pairs, 3 jumbo and 6 sacks of used foot wears, 22 bales and 4 sacks of secondhand clothing, 33 Pcs of handbags, 583 Pcs of used tyres, 550 kegs of PMS (Petrol) of 25 litres each, 143 book size, 21 cocunut size and 8 sacks of Cannabis Sativa.

Agbara said that the command had taken various security measures in order to tackle all forms of smuggling in the area.

“In the spirit of interagency cooperation, my command intercepted and handed over 1.8 tons (176 sacks, 120 compressed book packs and 21 compressed coconut packs of cannabis sativa (Indian Hemp) to NDLEA Ogun State Command on Wednesday 13th March, 2019 at Command Headquarters Abeokuta. The said items were seized by Officers and Men of the Command at different locations along the border areas in Ogun state.

“However, the above activities were raveled with series of clashes between Officers of the Command and some dare devil smugglers/accomplices leading to loss of lives and properties.

“It is pertinent to reiterate the fact that while the Service will continue to dialogue, engage, sensitize and educate the public on social/economic implication of smuggling, we will not relinquish our statutory functions of enforcing compliance with strict adherence to rules of engagement.

“It is pertinent to inform you that while the suspects involved in the murder of Customs Officer (Ca I Hamisu Sani) on 6th January, 2019 are on trial, the Command has succeeded in arresting three suspects involved in the attack of my men on lawful duty at Papalanto on Friday 8th March, 2019.

“The suspects have been arraigned before the Federal High Court Abeokuta and are currently on remand in prison for obstruction of Officers while on duty armed with dangerous weapons in contravention of Section 11 of CEMA CAP 45 LFN 2004 as amended.

“Also, the smuggler who mobilized okada riders to attack officers and even vandalized our sign post at Quarry Road, Abeokuta on Saturday 23rd March, 2019 has been apprehended and is presently undergoing interrogation prior to arraignment in court.

However, Agbara commended the synergy received from sister agencies, opinion leaders, head of traditional institutions, eminent personalities and other law abiding members of the public.

He added that, “We will continue to count on your support in protecting the economic and social well-being of our dear nation”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/ogun-customs-generates-over-n3b-in.html

The 130 children of an orphanage that was demolished last week by the Department of Development Control of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) have rejected the accommodation offered by the FCTA.

They rejected the offer yesterday at a meeting with FCT Minister, Bello Musa Mohammed.


The children from Divine Wounds of Jesus Christ, a rehabilitation home, arrived the minister’s office under a heavy police escort.

Their ground for rejecting the offer was that relocating to an entirely new home would jeopardise their happiness.

The orphanage’s head girl, Olajumoke Lawrence, who spoke on behalf of others, told Bello that they did not want to be separated from the place they had known as home for years.

She said they would prefer to bond in one place than to be separated into other homes at different locations.

THISDAY, however, gathered that the owner of the orphanage, Mrs. Victoria Nkiruka Ezemoka, whose bitter litigation with her brother-in-law, Godfrey Ezemoka, led to the demolition of the rehabilitation home, had arranged for an alternative home close to the demolished centre in Kubwa.

The temporary place is a 12-unit of two bedroom flats, which the children are said to be comfortable with.

The FCT Permanent Secretary, Christian Chinyeka Ohaa, who addressed journalists, after a brief meeting with the children and some officials of Social Development Secretariat (SDS), said the authority offered to take the children to an alternative home in Gwagwalada.

He disclosed that FCTA wanted to ensure that the children were secured, protected and provided with welfare.

He said the administration conceded to the children’s request to stay with their caregivers in order not to subject them to further psychological shock occasioned by the demolition of the centre.

He, however, insisted that although the FCTA had granted the children’s request, it would ensure that the necessary rules for administration of orphanage in the territory were not breached.

“They insisted they preferred to go back to where they were before. But we must also ensure that all the necessary by-laws and procedures regulating the operation of orphanage are adhered to. It is uppermost that their welfare is also taken care of. We offered to take them to our area in Gwagwalada but they rejected it and if they refused; they will not be obedient and if anything happens to them it will be taken against you,” Ohaa said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/130-children-of-demolished-orphanage.html

No fewer than 25,000 livestock will be vaccinated against contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBP) and Pests des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Kirikasamma Local Government Area of Jigawa under the 2019 Animal Vaccination Programme.

The Head of Department of Agriculture in the Area, Alhaji Mohammad Ubale, disclosed this in Kirikasamma on Monday.

He said that the animals to be vaccinated would include 13,000 cows, 7,000 goats and sheep as well as 5,000 dogs.

Mohammad said livestock owners in the area were already informed to visit veterinary clinics nearest to them with their animals to access the vaccines.

The official said that the vaccination would prevent outbreak of epidemics and increase meat and milk production in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/04/jigawa-lg-to-vaccinate-25000-livestock.html

Rivers State is on knife’s edge as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumes the collation of suspended governorship and State House of Assembly elections results on tomorrow, Tuesday, amid fears that the exercise, which will conclude the most protracted elections, will be disrupted.

The abrupt suspension of the collation of governorship election result in particular on March 10 due to military and political thugs’ interference with the process and uncertainty caused by INEC, which claimed it already had results for 17 out of the 23 local government areas in the state and the need to expeditiously conclude the exercise and declare the winner has left Rivers State in political limbo.

Rather than douse tension, the delay to conclude the process has thrown up issues and Rivers State into further turmoil as top chieftains of All Progressives Congress (APC), which was barred from the general elections, and their ally, the African Action Congress (AAC), are said to be pressuring the presidency to prevail on INEC for outright cancellation of the election over allegation of fraud.


But the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state has denounced the fraud rhetoric, as fantasies designed to provoke violence to pave way for declaration of a state of emergency. Hope that the resumption of the collation will dissipate the tensed political atmosphere in the state has been ruptured by unnerving claims by the former deputy governorship candidate of AAC, Mr. Akpo Bomba Yeeh and the party’s state deputy chairman of AAC, Amezhinim Atuma, that all arrangements have been made to disrupt the collation and the announcement of the governorship and House of Assembly elections’ results.

Yeeh, who last week resigned his membership of AAC and defected to PDP said amidst outrage, APC and AAC members are still bent on subverting the manifest will of the people as they intend again to use security personnel to violently attack and attempt to frustrate and possibly prevent INEC from resuming results’ collation process from April 2 through 5, 2019 as already scheduled.

Similarly, Atuma who has also joined PDP hinged his decision to quit AAC on the plot to unleash mayhem on Rivers State if the collation resumes tomorrow.“As at March 27, 2019, every arrangement has been made to disrupt the collation and announcement of the governorship and House of Assembly elections’ results, as scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) between April 2 and 5, 2019,” he said. “There are plans to cause bloodshed, leading to total breakdown of law and order between April 1 and 5, 2019. This is in furtherance of their plan to create a state of emergency in Rivers State, wherein Governor Wike’s term in office would have expired.”

Following the spate of demonstrations in Port Harcourt by supporters of both PDP and APC/AAC, the state has been on edge since last week. In anticipation of the possibility of confrontation between the contending parties, the state government on Thursday night banned all public protests in the state till further notice.

However, Rivers APC factional publicity secretary, Chris Finebone, said the state government might be unaware that Rivers people and indeed Nigerians have inalienable right to peaceful protest.

According to him, “It is necessary at this point to inform Governor Wike that his ban on protest is simply a waste of time and space. Nigeria Police cannot enforce an illegal ban except the governor intends to deploy his usual gun-toting hoodlums. He should remember that this is not 2015; this is 2019. If the governor tries it, he will not like the outcome and he knows it.”

Barely a few hours after the protest ban, the police had to deploy teargas to disperse both PDP and APC supporters who were planning to demonstrate from Tombia Street at GRA Phase 2 to INEC’s office along Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway which had been cordoned off by security personnel amid threats of possible attack at the resumption of collation of results.

The state’s PDP chairman, Felix Obuah, has accused APC chieftains of organising demonstrations in a bid to scuttle the collation and announcement of the results of March 9, 2019 Governorship and State Assembly elections.“It is clear that the APC is kicking against government’s ban on public protests as the ban will deflate their plans to cause crisis in the state. It is now obvious that APC is angry over the ban on public protests. They had intended to hide under public protests and use it as a weapon to unleash mayhem on the state which will in turn scuttle the collation and declaration of the governorship election results.”

But Action Democratic Party governorship candidate, Victor Fingesi, has bemoaned the incessant demonstrations ahead of resumption of collation of the results. He regretted that one of the key responsibilities of politicians who are elected or appointed into offices which is to create meaningful jobs to better lives has been neglected and that they were hiring crowds for meaningless demonstration for and against the resumption of collation.

“Here in Rivers State, the trending job these politicians create for the teeming youths is to stage meaningless protests,” he lamented. “Today, I would refrain from blaming the politicians. I would rather blame those who gave themselves to be used for selfish purposes. Youths whose wealth is being used up on frivolities still walk under the scorching sun for protests they barely understand. What could be more degrading?”

Irrespective of the anxiety that now pervades the state, INEC has insisted it would still abide by its earlier scheduled activities for the completion of the outstanding electoral process in the state beginning from April 2 through 5. Also, supplementary election may be conducted where necessary on April 13 and results announced between then and 15 April.

INEC said the identified activities for the conclusion of the process flows from the careful auditing by the fact-finding team set up by the commission’s headquarters to review the circumstances that led to the suspension of the process. The commission has declared its commitment to ensuring that the electoral process is free, fair, transparent and credible in order to guarantee that the choice of the electorate prevails at the end of the exercise.

Fifty-six governorship candidates in the March 9 governorship election in Rivers State have urged INEC not to succumb to the blackmail of extraneous forces who want to subvert the outcome of the suspended election. The chairman of Rivers 2019 Governorship Candidates Forum, Mr. Samuel Ihunwor, during the forum’s visit to INEC’s office in Port Harcourt, urged the commission to without further delay resume the collation of the suspended election results so that the people and the state could move on.

“All we, the governorship candidates and Rivers people, are asking is that INEC should go ahead to resume the suspended process, conclude its collation and declare the results and eventual winner without allowing minute enemies of the state to compromise the results already in INEC’s kitty for 17 LGAs,” he said. Ihunwor, who is also the Independent Democratic’s governorship candidate, took a swipe at some elders, groups and political parties who have continued to live in denial of the misdeed of some Nigerian Army personnel who were overly partisan during the general election.

As he put it, “It is sad that a few, who are desperate to destroy Rivers, would pay a rented crowd in the guise of civil groups to praise the same military that was widely caught on videos that went viral and seen by international monitors to have invaded collations centres and caused the death of innocent people.”

Intrigues and verbal salvos over the suspended elections have escalated since INEC announced it would resume the collation on Tuesday. Accord Party’s governorship candidate, Dumo Lulu-Briggs, has recommended that INEC should disqualify both PDP and AAC for violently infringing on the rights of Rivers’ people to a free, fair and transparent elections.

“Accord Party ran descent campaigns and was being voted for across the state and I would ordinarily have asked that Accord be declared winner but would not because the integrity of the electoral processes had been breached by the activities of PDP and AAC and their collaborators,” he said.Similarly, APC’s disqualified governorship candidate, Tonye Cole, is of the view that since the suspension of the election has lasted over three weeks it would be grossly irresponsible to proceed with its conclusion.

According to him, “It is certainly the constitutional responsibility of INEC to conduct elections, collate and announce results in a credible and acceptable manner, open to the participation and scrutiny of the public at all times and within the eyeballs and participation of political parties and their agents throughout voting, collation and declaration. This process has been completely truncated and its sanctity defiled, the result of which I fear greatly can lead to anarchy and possible loss of additional lives.”

Mr. Cole, who wants the governorship election declared null and void, has urged INEC, the Federal Government, the international community, political parties and all those who care deeply about the state to make history by positioning her for a completely new round of proper elections that will allow the people make a true choice on who will lead them. Both PDP and AAC have declared they won the election ahead of the imminent announcement of the official results, thus deepening the political crisis.


It will be recalled that a day after the suspension of Rivers’ governorship election, AAC’s governorship candidate, Mr. Biokpmabo Awara, who is also canvassing for the cancellation of the election, had claimed he won the now contentious polls and had called on INEC to declare him winner. Awara said, “Some of the unit results announced at the polling units in the local government areas where collations were not concluded clearly before the suspension of the processes show that I won over 15 local government areas. This because in the local government areas that were affected, voting had concluded, results declared at the polling units and collation had begun before the abrupt suspension of the process. The commission does not have the power under our Electoral Act to suspend elections that have already been concluded.”

But Governor Wike, who has been unusually quiet, had poured scorn on the opposition AAC/APC alliance for attempting to snatch results at the collation centres all in futile efforts to circumvent the democratic process. According to him, when opposition members who were involved in electoral heist hijacked Form EC 8C, they forgot that there is Form EC 8A. “It is not in doubt that Rivers’ people have shown our party love,” he said. “What is happening is sad. It is a drama. We have 13 House of Representatives seats and PDP clinched all of them. We have three Senate seats; one has been declared and PDP won. When the remaining two seats are declared, PDP will win them. Eighty percent of the seats declared, PDP took all.

“You begin to wonder why any right-thinking person would say that PDP lost the governorship election. Not that they say PDP lost to a party with a known logo, or if you have seen the candidate one day in your life or seen his posters to make people vote for the candidate. For us, it is a drama. PDP won the election squarely.”It is obvious that whoever is declared winner should anticipate lawsuits challenging the outcome of the polls.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/guardian.ng/politics/rivers-on-knifes-edge-as-inec-resumes-collation-of-guber-poll-results/amp

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu said although his life as a politician had been a fulfilling journey, it has all the way been defined by struggles.

He spoke in Lagos Friday after Islamic prayers to mark his 67th birthday.

“When I joined politics, there were a lot of uncertainties because it was during the military regime. There were lots of struggles but my concern is about people and the future of my country.

“My mother stood by me when I told her then that I was joining politics. She told me to be ready to take all sorts of insults whenever they cross my way. May her soul rest in peace.

“The struggle was tough. It created a justice on June 12 election of MKO and some people deserted the camp, the struggle, the spirit.

“We have stayed with this struggle. We know democracy is not easy but it is the only system of government that we chose.

“Ever since, it has been a very fulfilling journey. There is always the twist and turns in politics.


“Today, we endure, we persevere, we think, adjust, collaborate, merged and became single party just like yesterday,” he said.

Tinubu said that the APC party was in government for the common man.

“You will think that APC had been on for twenty years but is not up to six years. We went through compromises because we know that if we form a good alliance of progressive thinkers and believers in the ideology of common man, we will be able to serve the people.

“It is not by criticism alone. You have to have the opportunity to even change the life of the people and quality of their standard of living.

“So, we stood by it, we persevered persistently, uttered our voice, offered our recommendations, and then we are here. And today I am extremely happy that we are in government for the common man.

“The only way to change Nigeria from penury is to fashion out our own organic economic strategy and plan that will continue to cater for all,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/asiwaju-tinubu-my-politics-has-all-been.html

The Supreme Court in Abuja on Friday upheld the Court of Appeal judgment declaring Donald Duke, as the Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) presidential candidate.

The judgment was delivered by the Supreme Court presided over by Justices Ejembi Eko, Kudirat Kekere, Amiru Sanusi, Paul Galumje and Uwani Aji.

The court also awarded N3 million in favour of Duke.


The appellate court in January reinstated Duke as the SDP presidential flag bearer after overturning the ruling of the FCT High Court that disqualified him as the party’s flag bearer.

During the party’s primary held on Oct. 6, 2018 Duke had polled 812 votes to defeat his rival, Prof, Jerry Gana who polled 611.


However, Gana was dissatisfied with the result had approached an FCT High Court seeking to disqualify Duke as the party’s presidential candidate.

On Dec.14, 2018 an FCT High Court declared Gana the winner of the party’s presidential primary and Duke had appealed the ruling and

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/supreme-court-affirms-declaration-of.html

Two pastors of God of Possibilities Church, Chukwuka Stephen, 43 and Ejim Stephen, 39, have been arrested for killing their brother-in-law, Peter Chukwuyem, in Ogun State.

The suspects committed the offence on February 5, 2019, and arrested on February 24. The deceased married the suspects’ elder sister and brought them to live with his family from their village in Delta State.

The suspects were said to have converted the frontage of the man’s home at Papa Ibafo in Ogun State, to a church, which the deceased found unpleasant and chased them away.

As a result of that, the brothers matcheted Peter to death at his farm on the evening of February 5. It was when the deceased didn’t return on time that his wife traced him to the farm and met his dead body.

She subsequently went to Ibafo police station where she lodged complaint. The two brothers were later arrested on account of the two daughters of the deceased. who informed the police that they saw them earlier in their father’s farm.

On interrogation, the two suspects confessed to the crime. They said they did it because he deprived them of continuing using of his frontage for their church activities.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/pastors-kill-their-brother-in-law-after.html

The 11th edition of the Bola Tinubu Colloquium held in Abuja on March 29, 2019, in commemoration of the 67th birthday of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.


At the event, he expressed happiness that his party “walloped” the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2019 general elections.

Tinubu said the APC gave him a birthday gift by massively defeating the opposition party in the 2019 elections.


Read his full speech below:

”I want to thank President Buhari for sharing this special day with me. The pressure of affairs facing the leader of a nation is such that you could have easily found reasons why you could not participate. Instead you chose to be here and to even give me the compound honor of accepting to be the Chairman of this occasion. Mr. President, you have gone far these past few years in laying a good foundation for the economic recovery of the country. We shall go farther still so that Nigeria truly reaches the next level with you leading the way.
”Here I must also thank our dear First Lady Aisha Buhari for her zeal, support and commitment to the betterment of this nation. You are a true role model for women in Africa.

”I commend the Vice President, my dear friend, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and his team for organizing another excellent Colloquium. VP Osinbajo and his team have done a fine job bringing us together again this day. You have enhanced our democratic and economic discourse at a moment when such public discussion is greatly needed.
”I thank our party chairman and members of the national working committee and congratulate them once again for working as a dedicated team to re-elect our president and also ensure that we achieved a majority in the National Assembly. I thank all the governors and governors-elect present. I thank all National Assembly members and members-elect present. I thank the Ministers here present. I thank all the state assembly members, local government chairmen and other officials for being here.
”I especially thank our traditional rulers and religious leaders. Your words of wisdom and calls for peaceful co-existence and tolerance have always been a source of inspiration and a soothing balm for our people.
”I thank my darling wife, my family and all my friends who put aside their own personal business to join us today.
”Looking unto this cordial and supportive gathering and feeling the enthusiasm that has animated this moment, I cannot help but feel that we are on the right track.
”You see, Next Level is not just a trendy campaign phrase to be quickly discarded once victory has been achieved.


”It has a much deeper and more profound meaning, perhaps even more than its authors contemplated. This is because we are a nation still in the process of defining itself politically and economically.

”In thiS process, it is tempting and easy to borrow indiscriminately from those nations that seem to have mastered the art of democratic governance and to have achieved economic prosperity.

”However, to achieve durable progress, we can’t afford to work hard but in mindless devotion to the ways of other nations.
”This truth is particularly acute when these very nations now face fundamental political and economic questions that cast doubt on the social utility and viability of the economic model under which they have travelled for the past 50 years.
”The global economy faces stiff headwinds. Factors not of our making now cast the world economy towards low growth.
”Consumer spending is slipping. Aggregate private debt has attained historic levels. America and China are in a trade tug-of-war. Brexit looms imminent. Whatever form Brexit takes, economic dislocation will emerge from the political confusion now underway.
”Even without Brexit, the EU itself has entered a rough patch. The Eurozone may already be in recession. Stock markets experience wild swings that speak to an underlying weakness and pessimism about the immediate future.
”Forecasters are predicting a global recession within the next 12-18 months.
”I render these observations not to frighten anyone but because they ring true. Wisdom requires that we accept reality instead of obscuring it under the cloak of wishful thinking. We must build policies that interact with the world as it is, and not with the world as it should be.
”We must recognize these harsh economic tidings as advance warnings to the wise. Hence we must think deeper and work harder for our people in Nigeria.
”I would be a most wicked friend if I knew a storm was approaching yet convinced you to ready your family for an outdoor picnic under the tallest tree. The truth is always a more valuable guardian than fantasy.
”Mr. President, you have warned several times that the storm that approaches is not inevitable. It is born of a human folly and reckless greed. This means that it can be rectified by human wisdom and prudential action.


”At this point we must recognize a fundamental truth of our time. The economic model upon which the world is built is unraveling. The coming downturn is just a symptom of this great upheaval.
The global economy faces either genuine reform or gathering ruin.
”Because of this, the economic cohesion of Western nations is weakening. Income inequality has reached levels unseen in a century. The middle class in most countries is shrinking.

Wages stagnate while prices are on a ceaseless march upward.

”In America, progressives champion a Green New Deal — a massive government program to modernize that nation’s aging energy infrastructure and to create job programs to keep the middle class from becoming an endangered economic species.


”In France, the yellow vests protest the austere policies of the Macron government. The vests have the sympathy of the people.

”Brexit, no matter how misguided, was in large part a primal scream by people who feared the EU was responsible for their diminished economic conditions. The frustrated British would have been more accurate had they pointed the finger at a culprit closer to home – the austerity policies of two consecutive Tory governments.

”People the world over are questioning the centre-right conservative model that has, with few exceptions, governed the world for the last half century. In one form or another, people are protesting the way things are, and progressive politicians are trying to help the people change things for the better.


The Next Level must be seen as part of this global and historic dynamic.

”Our pursuit of the Next Level cannot be achieved by blindly following the economic path of other nations. That would be tantamount to racing to live in a building just as its long-term occupants were frantically rushing out, screaming that the edifice was mean and crumbling. If we are smart, we dare not enter.

”Instead, we must construct our Next Level on a progressive ideology and vision that will take our people out of penury, diversify our economy more aggressively, and empower and retrain our youth.


”To be the great nation we purport to be, we must reform and retool our economy according to our definition of what is best for our own people. We cannot assign that duty to anyone else.

”Here, I must ask for a little liberty to amend the fine title of this colloquium: “Work for the people.” We must do more than simply work for the people.
Government must “work for the people in a way that enables them to better work for themselves.”

”We must amend our basic ideas about the economy. We must divorce ourselves from our fixation with GDP rates and similar statistics. These things were initially intended to be indicators, suggestive measurements. However, we have misinterpreted these road maps by treating them as if they were the destination itself.

”This has caused us to distort the organic relationship between the people and the economy.

”This dominant train of thought has made the people servants to the dictates of abstract economic theories. In a more effective system, the economy would be fashioned to serve the concrete needs and legitimate aspirations of the people.

”Our economy must be redefined to be an efficient yet moral social construct with the primary goal of optimizing the long-term welfare of the people through the sustained, productive and full employment of labour, land, capital and natural resources.

In the current global context, the best translation of laissez faire economics is “let’s stay poor” economics.
”To believe that we are at our best when everyone focuses solely on maximizing their own position is to believe that one hundred hands can clutch at the same naira note but no one will get scratched.

”To pull the nation from poverty, government must play a decisive role. It must at times direct and even develop markets and opportunities. This is nothing novel. I am only restating what the established economies did when they were young and assumed their trajectories toward growth.

Yet, how do we organize ourselves to meet this task?
”Like no Nigerian government before, I believe the second administration of President Buhari shall dedicate itself to changing the very structure of our economy for the better.
”The single most important sector for the government’s focus is infrastructure. The most important of our infrastructural demands is power. This has been the greatest discovery of humanity in the last thousand years.

1. POWER:

”Affordable and reliable power will drive the industrialization that shall provide jobs in our cities and produce needed goods for all our people. In a more poetic rendering, it will take our people out of the dark ages and bring the nation into the light of a better day.

”I believe the second Buhari administration will work to increase electricity generation, transmission and distribution by more than 50 percent within the next 4 years.
”We require serious and bold reforms to achieve this. What is happening to our gas pipelines? Whatever we have to invest now for our future is a task that must be done boldly. The PDP administration shared out generation, distribution and transmission to their friends and cronies without very deep and thoughtful research and evaluation. It has now become pork chops. This privatisation must be revisited. Put experts together for a more constructive reform to improve generation, transmission and distribution by any means necessary. We cannot afford to be too legalistic about this.

Also, we should push to end the practice of billing people for electricity they never received. This practice is a vestige of the past that should not accompany us into the future. A person should be charged accurately and only for the power that they use.

2. Infrastructure:

”Government should continue to aggressively implement its national infrastructure plan. We must commit ourselves to a national highway system linking our major cities and towns, our centres of commerce, with each other. This will save lives, spur commerce, cut costs and bring Nigerians closer together.
”Water catchment and retention systems in strategic locations should also be introduced to end the destructive cycles of flood and drought affecting many areas.
”In working to transform the face of our economy, government must also enact policies that encourage industrialization and modern agricultural practices. We must applaud President Buhari for the historic innovations made in the agricultural sector. We must further encourage him to do even more. Government funded social security for the aged and government backed affordable housing and mortgage facilities are things we must continue to explore in an aggressive manner.
”In the end, our future is uncertain until we enter it and make of it what we will. We can either let the future happen to us or summon the courage to make the future belong to us as other nations have done.
I don’t think we really have a choice in the matter. We must take the people to the next level. It is a promise made and thus a promise that must be kept.
”Our goal is nothing less than enabling people to enjoy lives free of penury and lack. We seek to constitute a nation where all have basic sustenance and sufficient food on their tables, a sturdy and sheltering roof over their heads and the fair chance and means to sustain and further enrich their lives as they see fit. Let it be that all may live in social contentment and tranquillity with his neighbour as well as with himself. This is what we mean by the Next Level.

”Thank you for this wonderful birthday present you have given me. I have been enriched and energized by the intellectual exchange. I hope that you have too. Now, let’s move on to the Next Level.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/full-text-of-bola-tinubus-speech-at-his.html

Customers in disarray as rat storms Cold Stone, yesterday, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/customers-in-disarray-as-rat-storms.html


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mbDDgH2qfM

The Nigeria Association of Social Workers (NASoW), the umbrella body of Social Workers across the country has appealed to the National Assembly to send back the “The Nigerian Council for Social Work Establishment Bill 2017” to President Muhammad Buhari for assent.

NASoW National President, Alhaji Mashood Mustapha made this appeal in his message during the celebration of the International Social Work Day, with the theme, “Promoting Importance of Human Relationships” held across the country last Tuesday.

Mustapha in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital by the National Public Relations Officer (PRO), of the association, Mr. Musliudeen Adebayo, appealed to members of the National Assembly to “please send back the Nigerian Council For Social Work Bill to President Muhammad Buhari for his assent since the needful has been done”.

He insisted that “the bill when assented to, would promote competence and integrity in social work practice in the country”.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/nigerian-social-workers-appeal-to-nass.html

The Sen. Sonni Ogbuoji Campaign Council for the 2019 governorship election has explained the reasons the All Progressives Congress (APC) lost in the 2019 general elections in Ebonyi.

Sen. Anthony Agbo, the Director General of the Ogbuoji Campaign Council disclosed this at a news conference in Abakaliki on Wednesday.

He said that a number of factors were responsible for the abysmal performance of the party in the just concluded elections.

He said: “I, as the Director-General of the Ogbuoji Campaign Council with utmost humility and respect to all have decided to speak on the matter bearing no malice to none, but to provide our own version of answers to various questions asked by the people.

“Many, especially APC members and supporters have been asking questions and wondering what led to the party’s gross under performance at the elections in Ebonyi.”

Agbo said that the council immediately it was set up by Ogbuoji on Dec 2, 2018 swung into action and drew a campaign blueprint which it presented to the APC governorship candidate but it was never used.

“The council sat down to produce a comprehensive and detailed campaign blueprint which captured activities that were to be carried out at local government, ward, communities and village levels as well as individuals contacts and consultations.

“This was presented to Ogbuoji who told us that he was so pre-occupied with arranging issues relating to the election at Abuja level and that we should keep it in view,” he said.

He added that Ogbuoji shuned all efforts made by the council, stakeholders and party leaders to bring genuine peace and reconciliation among House of Representatives and state assembly candidates whose tickets were changed in Abuja.

“After the APC primaries in the state, the names of several persons who won house of representatives and state assembly tickets were changed in Abuja.

“This generated a very volatile situation in the party that later gave rise to multiple litigations.

“The Council made several representations to Ogbuoji and party leadership in the state for the reversal of the damaging action but the appeal was not heeded.”

Agbo noted that the irreconcilliable differences between Ogbuoji and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology was also a blow to the party in the state and regretted that all efforts to bring the two leaders to a reconciliatory talk failed.

Agbo said that the minister was not happy with the manner the governorship primary was conducted in Ebonyi, particularly as it had to do with the lists of delegates from Ikwo and Ezza South Local Government Areas.

“Ogbuoji refused to attend a peace reconciliation meeting convened twice by Chief Martin Elechi and attended by key party leaders including the Minister at the prompting of the council,” he said.

The DG explained that the party did not campaign vigorously for election due to poor funding of the electionerring activities.

“We wish to state categorically that since the inauguration of the council till the last election held in March 9, that the council did not receive any money from the governorship candidate or from any other person or source.

“No single financial request presented by the council to Ogbuoji for purposes of the campaign no matter how big or how small was ever honoured.

“The party went into the election with only N2,580,000 released by Ogbuoji in the eve of the election,” Agbo added.

He, however debunked alleged insinuation that the APC governorship candidate was planted as a mole in the party by the PDP.

He also commended the electorate in the state for the 94,000 votes at the presidential election and 81,000 votes at the governorship polls in Ebonyi.

In a reaction, Ogbuoji said that he invested the best of time, resources and energy in the election process for both the governorship and presidential elections.

Ogbuoji, who spoke through Mr Ikenna Emewu, his media and publicity director, said the funding made was based on his ability.

“Contesting an election with an incumbent vying for the same position was a huge huddle.

“We did our best in prosecuting the election and it is a huge task to contest an election with an incumbent contesting in the same election.

“I funded the election to the best my abilities could sustain,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/why-apc-lost-ebonyi-elections-campaign.html

The Charge d’Affairs and Deputy Chief of Missions United States (US) Embassy in Abuja, David Young, has applauded Edo State Government’s unrelenting and well-articulated efforts in creating jobs for youths as well as initiatives to curb human trafficking and illegal migration in the state.

Young, who made the submission during a courtesy visit to the Government House, in Benin City, yesterday, commended the state government’s efforts in creating jobs and opportunities for youths in the state.

The US diplomat also said the state government, through the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT), is working tirelessly to combat trafficking in persons, applauding “the excellent effort and steps taken in Edo by the inter-agency taskforce to arrest the menace. It is commendable that the state government signed the anti-human trafficking law and set up the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking. We salute the Taskforce. We also commend the anti-trafficking law which moves to codify prosecution for those involved in trafficking in persons.”

He added that the delegation is in the state to explore areas in which it can provide support to the government to prevent young people from falling victims of human traffickers.

Young also praised the collaboration between the state government and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)

On his part, the acting governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, said the state government realised that “the only way to move the state forward is to keep the youths engaged.”

Shaibu blamed human trafficking on bad governance in the past which caused the people to lose hope in the country, noting that the state government is changing the narrative with its economic reforms and skills development programmes, such as EdoJobs.

He said EdoJobs provides job opportunities for youths through capacity building, equipping them with in-demand employability skills for gainful employment as well as empowerment programmes and training to make them successful entrepreneurs.


Meanwhile, the state government has granted clemency and parole to 84 inmates in various prisons in the state, in alignment with the Federal Government’s commitment to decongest prisons across the country.

Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, said the move has the backing of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, with the aim of tackling overcrowding in prisons.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/us-applauds-obasekis-economic-reforms.html

The House of Representatives Committee on Works on Tuesday found out that the sum of N1 billion was allegedly used by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation for mapping two states.The revelation followed interactions with members of the committee at the budget defence exercise of the ministry, during which the Surveyor-General’s office presented its 2019 budget to the committee.

Members of the committee, led by Toby Okechwu (PDP, Enugu) faulted the breakdown of N324 million used for Anambra LGAs, N484 million for Anambra water and river bodies, as well as mapping of Ebonyi South Senatorial zone at the cost of N484 million.

Lawmakers equally queried the increment in the agency’s personnel from 2017 to 2018, even as they asked the office to provide the details of employment within the period, as well as N1.2 billion approved for ground digging in 2018, which was increased to N2.4 billion in the 2019 budget.

Responding, the Surveyor-General of the Federation, Ebisintel Awudu, said the office was responsible for mapping of every state for the period of five years at least.

But members disagreed, stressing that “there is nowhere in the world where mapping designs are this high”.

On the addition of personnel, Awudu said the office got approval to employ engineers from level 8 to 10, adding that the Federal Civil Service Commission had been employing staff for the office to about 130 surveyors.

According to him, “I wrote for 12 surveyors, which should come from the states that have international boundaries. The employment of level 12 to 14 surveyors is ongoing in the office.”

Presenting the 2019 budget earlier, Surveyor Awudu said the personnel cost for 2019 budget was N844,192,327.00, with overhead cost of N225, 000,000, while the capital cost N5, 603, 003,988.00, totalling N6,672,196,315.00.

On the 2018 budget, Awudu said the appropriation for the office was N8.15 billion.

He said N3.3 billion was released to the office and it utilised N3.3 billion.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/2018-budget-reps-uncover-n1bn-spent-on.html

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has reacted to the declaration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate, Sen. Bala Mohammed as the winner of the governorship election in the State.

Mohammed defeated incumbent Governor Muhammed Abubakar of the All Progressive Congress, (APC).

The pending result of Tafawa Balewa was regenerated, collated and announced at the INEC headquarters on Monday night.


Announcing the result, the new collation officer of Tafawa Balewa Local government area, Dr Musa Dahiru of the Federal University Kashere, said that PDP polled 39,225 votes, as against 30, 055 votes scored by the All Progressive Congress, APC and incumbent Governor Muhammed Abubakar.

Dogara, reacting, in a statement, described the victory of PDP as a liberation of the people from ‘Forces of darkness”.

Condemning Abubakar’s administration, Dogara said the victory of PDP will ‘salvage Bauchi state from hunger, poverty and underdevelopment’


The statement read: “The victory of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Bauchi state is the crowning of the struggle for the emancipation and liberation of our people from the forces of darkness, evil and retrogression that have held the state captive and hostage for over a decade.

“Indeed, Bauchi and it’s people have never been this challenged throughout our contemporary history. An oppressor class led mainly by people from without have chained our dear impoverished people to servitude, underdevelopment and penury. In their unlettered arrogance, they have taken Bauchi people for granted to the point that they believe the patience of an oppressed people will last forever. They, therefore, sought to perpetuate themselves in office again for another four years through this elections just to continue feeding their greed and perfidy.

“Historically, Bauchi people are known to be brave and politically savvy. They saw through the charade and decided this is the time to break away from the curse that has afflicted us thus far. By our collective resolve and by the results of this election, we have once again demonstrated to the world that no man made chains can bind us to servitude. The chains have come undone sending a clear message that Bauchi will never bend its back again for an oppressor to ride.


“Today’s victory is ours. Today’s victory speaks to a better and brighter future for ourselves, our children and generations yet unborn.

“We have proven that working together, there is no challenge that we cannot overcome as a people. I understand as we all celebrate this victory because it came at a coast so many of us were willing to pay in order to salvage our state from the precipice. But we cannot tarry long on this mountain of celebrations as what today’s victory demands of us is to go to work immediately.

We cannot go to sleep while over 1.3 million of our children are roaming the streets without access to education; while our hospitals do not qualify as consulting clinics; while hundreds and thousands of our children and youths have no jobs, retirees have no pensions and gratuities; while the entire Local Government system in the state has collapsed and while billions of our resources are being looted using ghost workers and other fraudulent means.


The work of rebuilding Bauchi begins now and we must never, ever allow our beloved state to fall into the hands of greedy, wicked, heartless, profane and godless people whose only God is their stomach.

“Bauchi people have decided that Sen Bala A. Mohammed (Kauran Bauchi) and Sen Baba Tela will lead us to recovery and progress in the next four years. This is a trust freely given by the broken and oppressed Bauchi people. I am happy of the rich pedigree they bring to the table. I am sure the way Bauchi people rejected the kleptomaniac government of Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar is enough lesson. We will support you with all we can as we look forward to an immediate positive impact in your first 100 days in office.

“On behalf my family and all well-wishers, I congratulate both our Governor- elect and Deputy Governor-elect, Bauchi people, Wazirin Bauchi, our Father, Alh Bello Kirfi and all those who sacrificed so much to make this victory possible.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/bauchi-guber-dogara-reacts-as-pdps-bala.html

Nigeria and other African countries could increase tax revenue by as much as $72 billion or 4.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) yearly if comprehensive tax reforms are carried out, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) says.The proposed comprehensive tax reform is one of the recommendations in the 2019 Economic Report on Africa (ERA) recently unveiled.

Despite measures taken in the last two decades to improve tax administration on the continent, with potentials for raising additional tax revenue by closing obvious gaps, glaring inefficiencies still remain.For Nigeria, however, there are concerns among the Organised Private Sector (OPS) over the planned increment in Value Added Tax (VAT), rather than expansion of the tax net, as this could hinder economic growth and increase misery.

The Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, had hinted the hike in VAT when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja, alongside other top officials in the Federal Ministry of Finance.He said that VAT increase was one of the areas being looked into by his agency to meet its 2019 revenue generation target of N8 trillion, arguing that Nigeria has the lowest VAT rate compared to neighbouring countries.

Reacting to the development, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), through its Director-General, Segun Kadir, stated that the association has always kicked against such moves, noting that while it understands government’s need to raise revenue, other avenues should be explored.

“The country presently has a high poverty rate, high unemployment and income is distributed unequally. An increase in VAT will compound the situation on ground. Our competitiveness may be impacted if we go ahead with the increment. Because it is largely a consumption tax, it will affect overall consumption in the economy”, he added.

The Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf, noted that times are hard for businesses now, hence, not the best time for such increment.Increasing tax revenue generation in ways that are “equitable and sustainable” will enable African countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, according to a report titled: “Fiscal Policy for Financing Sustainable Development in Africa.”

In the segment dealing with tax policy and performance in Africa, it also calls on governments on the continent to address the tax system holistically “to ensure that the tax system is progressive, neutral, fair and efficient, rather than deal with each tax system separately.

”In this way, governments may find additional opportunities for expanding the tax base, create more certainty for tax payers, and contextualise any global standards.”

The report said improvements in tax policy and performance in Africa will depend on more than tax efficiency, but also on the provision of essential public services to reduce inequality and encourage economic growth.To widen the tax base, it suggests African countries need to include more and more diverse payers in the tax net such as rural farmers and workers in the informal sector who have not yet been captured in the tax bracket.

“This should be done without harming the low-income workers,” adding that VAT regulations need to reduce policy gaps such as the excessive use of or reduced rates.It also advocates improving governance in revenue collection by combating corruption and reinforcing accountability to reduce inefficiencies in tax collection.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/tax-reforms-hold-72b-in-extra-revenue.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says the commission will not make further comments on the issue of the certificate of return for Rochas Okorocha, outgoing Governor of Imo State and senator-elect of Imo West district.

Festus Okoye, the National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education, said this during an interactive session with reporters in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, on Friday.

According to the commission, it was its policy not to issue certificates of return when the results are declared under duress by the returning officer.

Okoye revealed that INEC received same reports from the National Assembly polls in Obi/Oju Federal Constituency in Benue State, as well as the house of assembly elections in Niger and Akwa Ibom states.

He said: “The commission has not given a certificate of return to anyone from Obi/Oju, the same thing with Agaye state constituency in Niger State. There is also another state constituency in Akwa Ibom. So as of today, there are four areas where declarations were made under duress and we said we will not give certificates of return to those individuals.

“Some of them are already in court. Since the matter is sub judice, we are not going to make any further comments relating to them until the judicial process has run its course.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/no-further-comments-on-okorochas.html

The Hausa Community in Nnewi is desperately in need of its own market and burial ground, where members can do their business and bury their dead loved ones.

The community, which has existed in Nnewi since the early 1970s, said apart from the two issues, they are happy and living peacefully with their host community.

The Chief of Hausa community in Nnewi, Alhaji Mohammed Diya said the indigenes of Nnewi have been friendly with them in everything, but have not been able to meet their demands for land where they can establish their own market and burial ground.

“Hausa people living in Nnewi are many and we are not happy because we do not have a market that is called Hausa market. A market where we can bring cattle, bags of maize and other farm produce and sell. Apart from the issues of market and burial ground, we don’t have any problem with the people here. They are very friendly and accommodating.

According to him, Hausa businessmen are interested in bringing cattle, goats and different farm produce to sell to the people, which would be for the benefit of both Nnewi and Hausa people.

“We are many here and we have our mosque where we have worshipped since 1972. If they give us land, after some time they will collect it back because they said in Igbo land, land belongs to families and not government. If any of our members dies here, the corpse is taken to Awka for burial. We have met with the Igwe of Nnewi, HRM Igwe Orizu, and he has been promising us all these years and we are still expecting him to fulfill the promise.

I have been in Nnewi since 1973. The person that brought me here was Alhaji Bello Sambo; he lived in this compound and died here. One Idrisu became the second chief of Hausa community and when he died, I became the third chief. I am still here where they lived and died,” he stated.

“I speak Igbo language very well; the only thing is that I cannot write Igbo. My daughter Fatima came first in Igbo language here in Nnewi at the Women Development Centre.”

The Secretary of Hausa Community in Nnewi, Mr. Sali Suleiman, who also spoke with Akelicious, reiterated that they are living well with their host community.

“We have been requesting for a plot of land to establish our own market since we are not into the business of motor parts. We have been making this request since the old Anambra State, when I had not even come to Nnewi. We have written to so many governors even before Anambra State was created. We will continue to make the request. May be one day, we will get the land to do our own business.

“During the military regime of Col. Rufai Garba, a plot of land was allocated to us for a market but, along the line, some people came up and said that government does not own land in Nnewi and so does not have the right to give out family land to anybody. Since we do not want problems with our landlords, we did not protest,” he said.

Suleiman dismissed fears of disagreement or conflicts of any kind with the natives. “The IPOB issue is not in any way disturbing us and anyone who tells you that the IPOB is affecting us here is lying. We do not have any challenges with the people here; we are living peacefully with them. I have been in Nnewi for 34 years and we have not had any major issue with the indigenes,” he said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/we-live-peacefully-with-our-hosts-says.html

A teenager, Adijat Shakiru, has died as a result of a stray bullet in Adama community, Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sgt. Adeoye was attacked on Wednesday by some hoodlums while operatives of the Taskforce were on ‘Save our Soul mission to Mile-12 area.

The Taskforce Chairman, CSP Olayinka Egbeyemi, said those arrested claimed they were given cutlasses and broken bottles by their group leader at ‘Akani-modo’ to attack the operatives.


The police spokesman said the seven suspects arrested over the attack would, in addition to initial charges against them, be charged for murder.

Elkana said investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the teenager revealed that one Sgt. Mudi Emmanuel, who was part of the surveillance patrol team on operation at that community, was responsible for the shooting.

According to him, the officer was found wanting for professional misconduct, stressing that the policeman was undergoing orderly room trial at the Command’s Provost Marshall Unit.

“His actions fell short of the rules of engagement for the use of firearms and professional standard for police officers. He will be charged to court for murder.

“The command is determined to continually uphold the rule of law and protect the fundamental rights of the people,” Elkana said.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/stray-bullet-kills-teenager-in-lagos.html

Raymond Dokpesi, founder of DAAR Communications, owners of African Independent television (AIT), has been arrested at Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja, on his return from medical treatment at the American Hospital, Dubai.

AIt announced the arrest, quoting an immigration officer as saying Dokpesi is on the Federal Government's security watchlist, and that there were instructions from above to arrest him on arrival.

Dokpesi is standing trial for alleged involvement in the diversion of N2.1 billion security funds by Sambo Dasuki,former National Security Adviser.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/dokpesi-arrested-in-abuja-on-arrival.html

Former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Ekiti State, Chief Nduka Eya, has said that policy inconsistency by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is fast eroding the gains made in deepening the country’s democracy.

He was reacting to INEC’s refusal to hand over a certificate of return to Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who contested the Imo West Senatorial election of February 23, 2019.

The former REC and other stakeholders, including senior lawyers, described the claim that the governor was declared winner of the poll under duress as a serious allegation.


Asserting that the matter should be interrogated at a court of law, they blamed INEC for taking inconsistent positions on matters relating to electoral breaches.

Senior lawyer, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, said the question of issuing a certificate of return to Okorocha as winner of the senatorial election when there was a case of use of force and threat to life against him was unacceptable.

Uwazurike noted, however, that Okorocha has the right to challenge INEC’s decision in court, especially after he had been pronounced winner of the ballot.

“Asking INEC to issue a certificate of return to Rochas Okorocha is akin to asking a banker to honour a bank draft, which he had been told was issued under threat,” added.

Prof. RACE Achara said any return made by an INEC official in an election under duress amounts to a sham, arguing that though pronouncement of INEC in an election was not final, it could only be upturned by a court of law or tribunal.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/okorochas-case-exposes-inecs.html

A rerun of the gubernatorial election in Bauchi will hold in 15 local government areas where votes were cancelled, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Bauchi office has said.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Ibrahim Abdullahi , disclosed this at a press conference at the Prof. Mahmood Yakubu Conference Hall, INEC Headquarters in Bauchi on Thursday.

According to him, the rerun election will be held in 36 polling units covering 29 registration areas (wards) in the 15 affected local government areas with 22,759 registered voters.

[url]Full details at https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/inec-to-conduct-rerun-in-36-polling.html[/url]

The Action Democratic Party, ADP, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a fresh governorship election in Rivers State.


The party also demanded that INEC should bar the PDP and the African Action Congress, AAC, from participating in the fresh election.

The ADP, speaking through its governorship candidate, Victor Fingesi, at a press conference in Port Harcourt, the state capital, said the March 9 election was marred by irregularities.


Fingesi added, “We are asking INEC as they are conducting investigation, not only to prosecute but to ban offending parties from further exercise INEC would recommend to resolve the electoral process in this state.

“This cannot be waived away as deterrent for future elections nationwide.

“ADP in Rivers is calling for the outright cancellation of the March 9 Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.


“This election was marred by violence, vote buying, ballot box snatching, intimidation by the military, gangs and thugs.

“Our party and some others were prevented from all the collation centres from wards, local government and state levels.

“In so many polling units, only agents of the PDP and AAC, and the APC proxy were allowed to observe the calling of the results.


“We also note that our polling agents were not signatories to any document at the polling units and collation centers.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/rivers-guber-adp-calls-for-fresh.html

Stakeholders in Rivers State on Tuesday has called on the National Judicial Commission (NJC) to ensure justice is meted out to perpetrators of violence during and after the 2019 general elections.

“Whilst we cannot and should not stop the Nigerian Army or indeed any professional body from reviewing the conduct of its own personnel,
we hereby call for a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to be speedily set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria to secure a broader
thorough, professional and unbiased inquiry into the massive loss of lives which occurred before, during and after the elections in Rivers State,” the stakeholders said in a statement.

“We have watched with disbelief and horror recent violent incidents which occurred before, during and after the elections that were held in Rivers State on 23rd February 2019 and 9th March 2019. These incidents occurred supposedly as a result of the elections.”


The stakeholders included the founder of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc Atedo Peterside, the pioneer chairman of the NBA section on Business Law George Etomi, CEO and group managing director of Access Bank Plc Dr Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, chairman of Aveon Offshore Ltd Tein George, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, oil and entrepreneur Emmanuel Georgewill and former Nigeria Bar Association president Mr O.C.J. Okocha.

While commending the Nigeria Army for launching an investigation into the role played some of its personnel in violence during and after the election, they called for unbiased treatment for the erring officers.

“Every single death must be investigated and the culprits brought to justice,” they said in the statement.

The stakeholders lamented that “these violent incidents have led to the needless loss of so many lives, especially youths in various communities. We do not believe that elections which are designed to enable the people to choose their leaders should lead to their death instead.”

They expressed willingness to work with sincere and responsible stakeholders and all genuine friends of Rivers State to find a lasting solution to the problems that have bedevilled the state.

They said the “inability of the political leaders in our State to manage their rivalries and differences within acceptable
norms of a civilised society as has been done in several other States in Nigeria” had caused the breakdown of law and order which is troubling for the safety of lives.

The stakeholders urged “all indigenes of Rivers State who are engaged in politics and their Political Parties to act with restraint at all times and avoid utterances that may further inflame passions.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/stakeholders-seek-njc-intervention-on.html

Rivers State chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has called on the Minister of Transportation and factional leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Chibuike Amaechi, to stop daydreaming about governing the state for a third term, by plotting to foist a neophyte to administer the people.

Chairman of PDP in the state, Felix Obuah, in a statement, yesterday, said this, following a ‘poorly concocted footage’, purportedly proclaiming the African Action Congress’ (AAC) governorship candidate, Biokpomabo Awara, as winner of the March 9, 2019, governorship election in the state.

Obuah described the video with imaginary figures, as highly malicious and an embarrassment to Rivers people.

He said Rivers people cannot be deceived by the APC-sponsored footage, as “it is very obvious that the characters featured in the video were not people of the state.”

He said looking at the ‘malicious’ content of the footage, it was clearly intended to insult the sensibility of Rivers people, adding that the sponsors had failed on arrival, as they had embarked on what he called “a voyage of discovery.”

Obuah alleged that Amaechi was addressing a rented crowd in the footage, ostensibly to make it to look as if it had something to do with AAC, whereas it was actually clips from APC campaign and the ill-fated presidential rally of the party at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in November 2018.

“Amaechi and his AAC fantasy are only deceiving themselves. You can see the event featured in that video took place last year, when Amaechi had yet no inkling of what laid ahead for the APC in the state.

“In their stupidity, they made the video look as if it was a crowd of AAC supporters living in the fantasy of producing a governor. This is, but, the height of political 419,” Obuah said.

He advised the APC and AAC to stop daydreaming about governorship of Rivers State, as no amount of propaganda and recruiting of hirelings and dressing them as chiefs or elders to look respectable, can hide their childish inclination and pecuniary interest.

The state PDP boss advised the APC, which he noted was delisted from the ballot in state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to put its house in order and stop interfering with the electoral process in the state.

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/rivers-stop-daydreaming-pdp-tells.html

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will continue with the scheduled supplementary elections in Bauchi state, it was learnt.

INEC noted that the poll slated for this Saturday will hold in areas not affected by the court ruling.

Disclosing this Tuesday, the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye said the Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

Besides, Okoye said that INEC will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.


He said, “The Commission has complied with the Order of the Federal High Court Abuja. The Commission has suspended the Collation of the Governorship Election Result for Tafawa Balewa Local Government.

“The Commission will proceed and complete the Collation of the result of the State Assembly Election for Tafawa Balewa Local Government and make a return.

“The Commission will proceed with supplementary elections on Saturday in relation to areas that are not affected by the Court Order.

“The Commission has a history of obedience to court orders. The Commission will continue to comply with court orders and will take steps to vacate orders where it feels strongly that the Court that gave the order has no jurisdiction.

“The Commission will work towards the expeditious resolution of the Collation process in Tafawa Balewa Local Government.”

https://www.akelicious.net/2019/03/bauchi-inec-to-proceed-with.html